North Florida sophomore Philip Knowles
(North Florida Athletics Photo)
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FL (February 25, 2017) -- With one day remaining at the John Hayt Collegiate North Florida is 1-over and the leaders by three. The Ospreys moved to the top of the leaderboard with a 2-under second round at Sawgrass Country Club and they will begin the final day in front of second place Jacksonville.
First round leader UCF, Liberty and Tennessee will begin the final round tied for third at 8-over.
North Florida was led to the lead by the 5-under 67 Saturday round fired by Phillip Knowles. The 67 was one of three shot on Saturday and it set the low round standard for the tournament.
Knowles, a sophomore, is 4-under for the week and he will begin the final day in a four-way tie for the medalist lead. Beginning on No. 1, Knowles birdied his opening hole before going onto seven holes overall while bogeying just twice during the round.
The best stretch of golf for the 2016 Atlantic Sun All-Freshman team member came during his 4-under run on Nos. 1-8.
Through the first two rounds North Florida, in search of their first win of the year, has received a major lift form Andrew Alligood who at 1-under is tied for seventh.
Joining Knowles in the tie for the lead at 4-under are David Wicks (Jacksonville), Peter Kim (Army) and Cory Churchman (North Texas).
One shot back at 3-under in a tie for fifth are Taylor Eyster (UAB) and Amarin Kraivixien (Campbell) while three others join Alligood in the seventh play tie. Five others are just four off the pace at even-par.
ROUND ONE RECAP
Day one is in the books and with just two teams under-par UCF is pacing the field at the John Hayt Collegiate. The Knights turned in a 3-under Friday tally at Sawgrass Country Club and they are one shot in front of the 2-under Louisville Cardinals.
Helping UCF to the top of the leaderboard was first round co-leader Manuel Elvira. One of four players sitting at 3-under, Elvira overcame three bogeys with four birdies and an eagle on the par-5 11th. Elvira, a native of Spain, was a member of the 2016 American Athletic All-Conference Team.
UCF was also lifted the Friday lead by sophomore Donnie Trosper and senior Ryan Stovash, both of whom shot 1-under 71's to join a group in ninth place.
Joining Elvira atop the individual leaderboard is Taylor Eyster (UAB), Thomas Rosenmueller (North Texas) and Patrick Stephenson (East Carolina). Four players are just a shot back at 2-under in a tie for fifth.
Behind UCF and Louisville in the team standings are Liberty (+1) in third, UAB (+2) in fourth and North Florida (+3) in fifth.
ABOUT THE
The Hayt
54 hole men's college tournament hosted by
the
University of North Florida. Team (best four scores
of
five players each round) and individual competitions.
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